Heating the garage

[poprivet]

OK, as things are a bit quiet, for discussion I'll rip this subject off the main jec site:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/ ... Medium.jpg

Who heats/dehumidifies their garage here? If so, how do you do it... not coal these days I expect
Pop

[wolf]

Flash git!!!!!!!!!

Whats a garage?

[davidr]

My garage/workshop also houses the boiler so it was easy enough to install a radiator to keep everything toasty warm. Just as well as she who thinks she's obeyed doesn't like me hanging around in the house making it look untidy so I spend alot of time out there.
I haven't got as far as a de-humidifier yet - doesn't appear to need it.
Has anyone else tried one in a heated garage? Are they expensive to run? (Stupid question coming from a bloke with a centrally heated garage!)

[ptjs1]

I've got a double garage (but still no room to get the XJS in!). My heating and insulation technique consists of:

- Pieces of flexible plastic attached to the bottom of each garage door to minimise cold air flow coming in from outside. The plastic came from some scrap conduit I found in the skip

- A 70p humidity gauge I picked up at Homebase

- A 3 kw convection heater with the thermostat set a bit above the frost level - Cost £20

- A 2nd-hand dehumidifier with the humidistat set to cut in at about 65% humidity. Cost £30 from advert in local newspaper.

The dehumidifier is a great peiece of equipment and pulls a frightening amount of approx 8 pints of water every 24 hours during damp weather. Apparently costs about 5p per day to run.

Now if only I could get the car in there as well!

[keithbaker]

Hi, All

I've got a draughtly old garage, but I thought that it was good to have all that air circulating Have I got it horribly wrong?

[ptjs1]

Keith,

IMO

Dry air circulating = good
Cold wet air coming in and hanging around in the garage putting moisture on every bit of metal and fabric = bad


Paul

[dhdove]

Dear All
As I remember, it was always said "by those in the know" that the ideal storage area for a car was a car-port. Keeps the rain, leaves and sh*t off but ensures constant circulation of air.
BUT, When did you last see anyone building a car-port?
DH Dove

[Gordon@1962]

Well it just so happens....................

My Father in-law was a joiner in his time and built me a lovely Carport.
The only problem is Gale winds are batting our area today and I'm sat looking out the window hoping it doesn't take off!
(not that I didn't think he'd done a good job of course. )

[milly2]

My fence took off today and now my neighbour has something that could be passed off as a carport. The garage was like a wind tunnel even though both doors were closed. The jag's wing mirrors resembled a spaniel's ears in a high wind at one point.

[brian696]

info from he who knows

the average UK temperature is 10.2 degC
the average relative humidity in UK is 80%

theres roughly twice as much moisture in the air in summer than in winter

at 0 degC and 50% r/h theres 1.8g/kg of moisture
at 10 degC and 50% r/h theres 4g/kg of moisture
at 20 degC and 50% r/h theres 7.2g/kg of moisture

Oxydisation (rust to us spanner heads) happens at a relative humidity above 60% regardless of how much moisture is in the air(g/kg) or what the temperature is.

You dont need to heat prevent corrosion - just keep the R/H below 55%
and it wont happen. - of course you'll still be cold in the winter!

there are two types of dehumidifer
a) refrigerant based
b) dessiccant based (silica gel or lithium)

Refrigerant types are ok but only above 10 degC
dessiccant types work at any temperature

the smallest dessiccant drier cost about £700
refrigerant units are more common and start at around £120

if your considering dehum in your garage you need to keep the air change rate below 1 per hour(when closed up) otherwise its expensive as they all use electricity. (you will need a larger unit)

1 air change is the volume of your garage (Lx W xH)
the average garage when closed will have around 2 air changes /hour
Open the door and 1 air change will happen in approx 2 minutes.

hope the info helps (more available on request)
BC

[keithbaker]

So, in my drafty, damp old garage, am I better off using my indoor car cover, or will that just trap moisture?

What do you think, chaps?

Regards,

Keith.

[brian696]

hi keith
a car cover, indoor or outdoor has no effect on the relative humidity of air which carries the moisture that rusts our cars. They prevent dust, scrapes, UV light etc but can actually prevent moisture from evapourating away from saturated surfaces.
Generally in an average garage they are ok if the car is dry when the cover is put on. Outdoor units are slightly different as the waterproofing prevents surface water ingress but they will not prevent long term corrosion.

Any untreated or unprotected surface (metal) will corrode at relative humidities above 60% whether covered or not. If you can see water /moisture on any surface then that particular surface will be at saturation ie. 100% relative humidity
Air carries the moisture in - it also carries it away so a cover on in a damp garage is not recommended.

Best long term solution other than a conditioned garage is surface (internal & external) protection using waxyol , paints , underseals etc which acually prevent direct water contact with vunerable metal surfaces.

Update on prices I quoted in previous article - small dessiccant drier kits for the average domestic garage are availble at £595. Dehumidification is a good investment for long term storage in well sealed garage but not worth the expense if the garage is used daily.

brian 696
1996 4.0 Celebration coupe (rust free ???)

[keithbaker]

Hi, Brian, and thanks for your reply.

Being a simpleton, I'm still confused though.

You say

Generally in an average garage they are ok if the car is dry when the cover is put on.

but you also say

Air carries the moisture in - it also carries it away so a cover on in a damp garage is not recommended.

When I'm having a more "creative moment" I think of making a frame for the cover, and winching it above the car, then lowering it so that it hovers just above the bodywork, thereby protecting it from the dust etc., without actually touching it. In reality, though, I know I'll never get around to it!

I don't cover the car unless it is clean, but when I do clean it , I usually go for a spin around the block to remove water from all those little places it gathers in, then cover it to keep the dust off.

Perhaps in future I should just make the time to dust it off when I get it out?

Regards,

Keith